United explode past Wigan at the DW as Robin Van Persie and Javier Hernandez run riot. Berbatov’s class swings it for Fulham, while City find the goal trail again as Aguero and Dzeko deliver once more. Here’s the Stock Check from Saturday’s matches so far…
On the Up
Javier Hernandez & Robin Van Persie
A brace for the Mexican – when Hernandez starts, he nearly always delivers. Working in tandem with Robin Van Persie, the pairing dismantled the Wigan resistance at the DW with both returning double figures. Hernandez, at 7.0, looks a bargain but remains a peripheral figure in the current United formation; once Wayne Rooney is available, he would seem destined to play a cameo role, with the odd start when Sir Alex Ferguson opts to rest his first choice pairing. With Van Persie returning two goals and an assist, the Dutchman remains the weapon of choice in the United lineup with no player able to keep pace with his consistency: week by week, he’s making the art of selecting the FPL captaincy a formality.
Jonny Evans
With Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic seemingly alternating in the United back four as both contend with fitness concerns, Evans has now started the last four and looks to be cementing his starting role as a result. Evans is available for 5.8 in the FPL, some 0.2 cheaper than Rafael who returned to right-back today. United kept their second consecutive clean sheet at Wigan: further indication that perhaps the defence is turning the corner.
Pablo Zabaleta
While a cast of City’s defensive assets remain threatened by rotation, Zabaleta has now started ten of the last eleven for Roberto Mancini. His second goal of the season in today’s win over Stoke underlined his attacking threat and, at 5.9, he is the obvious replacement for those feeling fidgety after Matija Nastasic was dropped to the bench.
Edin Dzeko
A third goal in his two starts, the Bosnian has taken his opportunity and done all he can to convince Roberto Mancini that he deserves a continued run in the side. At 7.3, that situation warrants monitoring, with City’s lineup for their FA Cup tie next weekend offering further clues to their likely lineup at Arsenal in Gameweek 21. The injury sustained by Sergio Aguero, confirmed as a hamstring problem, may yet help Dzeko’s cause.
David Silva
The assist for Aguero’s penalty took Silva to four in his last five starts and the signs are that Silva’s crawling, consistent returns of last season are now in evidence. Far from explosive as a midfield heavy-hitter, clearly Silva still provides a viable option if City can continue scoring at a decent rate.
Dimitar Berbatov
Imperious once again in Fulham’s 2-1 win at West Brom, Berbatov inspired the Cottagers with his seventh goal of the season and suddenly, having gone seven games without returns, the Bulgarian has fetched two goals and an assist in his last three matches – returning in each one. The upturn has coincided with the return of Bryan Ruiz; surely no coincidence.
Romelu Lukaku
The on-loan striker has now struck seven goals for the season, a strong return for a 6.4 Fantasy option. It leaves us wondering what Lukaku would offer if he could have cemented a starting role in the Baggies lineup before now. As it is, he’s started just eight league matches this season but has been given the nod over Shane Long in three of the last four, earning two goals and four bonus points that spell.
Christian Benteke
When Villa score, the Belgian is normally involved. Today the big centre-forward delivered the assist for Andreas Weimann’s opener, then converted a spot kick on his way to his second double figure FPL haul of the season. With fixtures softening for Villa, Benteke has again emerged as a prospect. Weimann, at just 5.2 in the FPL, could be another option for those brave enough to consider Paul Lambert’s outfit for investment.
Pablo Hernandez
Back from injury, Hernandez has fetched consecutive assists – there’s little doubt that the little Spaniard has quality and the ability to deliver returns. Michu’s goalscoring form is, of course, the major problem when considering Hernandez but for those without the Swans’ leading scorer, Hernandez is an effective, if less explosive, cover option.
Joey O’Brien
A second league goal of the season offered a reward to O’Brien’s growing army of owners, boosting his status as the best value asset within the Hammers defence. O’Brien has been in favour, starting the last 11 league matches whereas former budget favourite Guy Demel has failed to cement his start of late. With a double Gameweek beckoning, O’Brien looks set to go on increasing in ownership and price. The full-back was replaced on 71 minutes, presumably with a knock, giving him the clean sheet from today’s game, despite the late goal from Norwich.
Aaron Lennon
The speedster delivered another assist to take him to six for the season and give him returns for the third consecutive match. With Gareth Bale absent through suspension today and Jermain Defoe drawing a blank, Lennon could well earn renewed interest in the midfield mid-price bracket.
Michael Dawson
The centre-back started his third league match in four and duly delivered his first goal of the season to open the scoring against Reading. Andre Villas-Boas continues to rotate his centre-back pairings but Dawson, at just 4.5 in the FPL, needs to be monitored as an option if there are signs that the Spurs boss is to settle on a first choice option.
Going Down
Matija Nastasic
Just for one moment, we thought that Nastasic had cemented his starting role in the City back four but, having conceded three from set-pieces at Norwich, Roberto Mancini decided to change his centre-back partnership for the visit of Stoke. The young Serbian had started the last five and, indeed, has played in 11 of the last 12 for City but was dropped to the bench against Stoke, with Joleon Lescott recalled alongside Vincent Kompany.
Jermain Defoe
A blank today in Tottenham’s 3-1 means that Defoe has now returned just a single goal in his last six matches – disappointing form for a striker in a side that has scored 11 goals in that spell. With Emmanuel Adebayor notching today, Defoe owners may well be on the look out for options should Defoe’s dry spell continue.
John Arne Riise
Rested to the bench for the 2-1 defeat to Swansea, the Norwegian was out of the matchday squad for today’s win at West Brom as Matthew Briggs started at left-back once more. Fulham have Wigan at the Cottage next, with three home games in the next four. It appears that Riise is no longer assured his starts going into that run, while Briggs could yet be an option for 3.9 in the FPL.
The West Brom Defence
Earmarked earlier in the season as one of the more assured back fours, offering value in the mid-price bracket, the Baggies are now without a clean sheet in their last four and have earned just one shut-out in the last eleven league outings.
